Interconnectors – separating the myths from the facts

MYTH 1: Interconnectors can’t help us reach net zero

TRUTH: Interconnectors play a vital role in helping us to reach net zero

Fossil fuels deliver a reliable supply of energy, but they also produce harmful carbon emissions. Renewable energy is clean, but it is more intermittent – if the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow, we can’t generate wind or solar power.

Interconnectors allow us to import clean energy when we need it, within a matter of minutes. They also allow us to export excess energy to our neighbours when they need it. This flexibility is critical to continue to deliver a reliable supply of energy, as we transition towards net zero and an energy system dominated by renewable power.

By 2030, we expect our interconnectors will have helped the UK to avoid around 100 million tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to taking two-million petrol cars off the road.

MYTH 2: Building interconnectors will increase electricity prices

TRUTH: Interconnectors actually help to reduce energy costs

Interconnectors actually give the UK access to cheaper electricity from abroad. We estimate that hitting the UK government’s ambition of 18 gigawatts of interconnector capacity by 2030 would save UK consumers up to £20 billion between now and 2045.

MYTH 3: Our interconnectors that are linked with Europe won’t work after Brexit

TRUTH: Since Brexit, our interconnectors have continued to play a critical role in sharing clean energy between the UK and the EU 

It’s true, some of the trading is less efficient than it was, but the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement recognises the importance of efficient cross-border trading arrangements to facilitate the growth and integration of renewables.

We’re committed to continue working closely with our EU neighbours and we expect to develop arrangements that will ensure the best outcome for consumers across the UK and Europe.

MYTH 4: Interconnectors just import dirty energy from Europe, instead of generating it in the UK

TRUTH: Interconnectors will help the UK to reduce our carbon emissions

Both the UK and EU have set ambitious targets for interconnectors, because they are recognised as the ideal technology to help drive the growth and integration of renewable energy.

The energy mixes of all the countries we connect to are getting cleaner. By 2030, we estimate that 90% of the electricity we import from mainland Europe via National Grid interconnectors will be from zero carbon sources.

Facts about interconnectors Electricity interconnectors are high-voltage electricity cables that enable the efficient transmission of power between two countries. The longest interconnector is North Sea Link, which stretches 720 kilometres across the North Sea between the UK and Norway. National Grid has five operational interconnectors connecting the UK with Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Norway. Over the last year, our interconnectors have prevented more than 1.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions. We are currently constructing Viking Link, which will stretch 760 km between the UK and Denmark and is expected to be completed at the end of 2023.

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